Ringoen adding depth to outfield

July 13, 2014

There are 15 full-time players on this year's Minot Vistas American Legion baseball team, and all but one are playing with at least one high school teammate.

Of the 15-player roster, 12 either graduated from or currently attend Minot High, while Austin Eggl and Jake Magnuson both graduated from Bishop Ryan last month. The only Vista not to don a Minot or Ryan jersey during the spring was Our Redeemer's Christian School's Trever Ringoen. Ringoen played against Eggl and Magnuson with Surrey-ORCS.

ORCS kids are few and far between when it comes to the Vistas. Minot coach Todd Larson said the last one he remembers is current KXMC anchor Perry Olson, a member of the Class of 2000. Despite not playing with any of his current teammates during the high school season, Ringoen is no stranger to them.

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Joe Mellenbruch/MDN Trever Ringoen leads the Vistas with a .567 on-base percentage in 20 games played this season. He’s reached base in all but two games and has a .356 batting average.

"I've known most of them since starting out in Cal Ripken," Ringoen said. "It's fun to get to know the older group that I've been playing with. It's a change of pace going from Class B to Class A."

Ringoen has made the adjustment nicely and leads the Vistas with a .567 on-base percentage. He's one of three players with an on-base percentage over .500. Ringoen has played in 20 games thus far, reaching base in all but two of them.

"I'm just patient at the plate," Ringoen said. "I look for opportunities to get walks or even hit by pitches. I wait for my pitch until later in the count."

Ringoen has walked 14 times and been hit by eight pitches. Against Williston on June 21, Ringoen walked during all five plate appearances.

He can hit the ball, too, sporting a .356 batting average. Ringoen has six extra-base hits, 10 RBIs and 15 runs scored.

Larson said perhaps his best attribute is his attitude.

"He never gets very high, he never gets very low if things are going badly," he said. "He's very consistent at what he does."

Defensively, Ringoen has roamed all parts of the outfield and spent time in the infield as well. With Chandler Jacob, Alex Mack and Hunter Duttenhefer solidifying the top three outfield spots, Ringoen provides the Vistas with depth. When his number's been called on, he's performed well, making 19 putouts and nine assists in 29 chances.

"We do have five pretty good outfielders and you just have to make the plays that come to you and hopefully coach likes what he sees and hopefully you can get a spot out there," Ringoen said.

Said Larson: "He's very capable defensively. He runs things down. He gives us a lot of extra depth out there in the outfield. Trever just does whatever's asked of him."

Larson said Ringoen's been a pleasant surprise in the five games he's appeared on the mound. He sports a 2-2 record with a 3.19 ERA in 26.1 innings.

As a first-year player, Larson said Ringoen has plenty of potential. The more opportunities he gets, the better he'll become.

But like everyone else, he'll have to fight for his spot in the lineup.

"He's seeing some different pitching from what he saw in the spring," Larson said. "He's made very good adjustments there. We have a crowded outfield. We have three pretty good guys out there and all three could come back next year. It will be interesting to see how things shake out for next year, but right now he's producing and doing everything we've asked of him."

Mike Kraft covers the Minot Vistas and general assignments. Follow him on Twitter @MKraft24_MDN.